Proof

(1) implies (2)

Given: A group with a finite generating set and a generating set (not necessarily finite).

To prove: There exists a finite subset of that is also a generating set for .

Proof:

Step no.

Assertion/construction

Facts used

Given data used

Previous steps used

Explantion

1

For each element , there exists a finite subset of such that .

is a generating set for ,

Since generates , and , we can write as a word in terms of the generating set . The word has finite length, hence can use only finitely many of the elements of . Denote by the finite subset of comprising the elements used in such a word. Note that depends on the choice of word, and as such is not unique, but this is not a problem for us.

2

Let where is the subset defined using Step (1). Then, is a finite subset of .

is finite.

Step (1)

By Step (1), each is finite. Since is finite, is a union of finitely many finite sets, hence is finite.

3

is a finite subset of that is a generating set for

is a generating set for .

Step (1)

By Step (1), for each . Since , for each . Thus, , so . We already know that , so . This forces that .

(2) implies (3)

Given: A group with the property that every generating set for contains a finite subset that is also a generating set.

To prove: has at least one minimal generating set, and every minimal generating set of the group is finite.

Proof:

Proof of the first part: Start with as a generating set for itself. By the given, there exists a subset that is finite and is a generating set for . Let be the collection of subsets of that generate . is nonempty since . Since it is finite, it must have a minimal element. Thus, there exists a minimal generating set for .

Proof of the second part: Suppose is a generating set for . If is infinite, then it cannot be minimal, since by assumption, it contains a finite (and hence strictly smaller) generating set for . Thus, must be finite.

(3) implies (4)

This is direct.

(4) implies (1)

This is direct.

(1) implies (5)

For any finite generating set, the group is the union of the cyclic subgroups generated by the individual generators.

(5) implies (1)

If the group is a union of finitely many cyclic subgroups, pick one (cyclic) generator for each cyclic subgroup. The set comprising these generators is a finite generating set for the group.